Aviva makes multiple senior underwriting hires to expand London trading office

Aviva has added multiple underwriters to its London trading office as part of plans to get closer to brokers in the city.

The moves include Richard Collier being appointed as regional fleet portfolio manager, Emily Cahill as mid-market senior new business underwriter and Steve Hodges as mid-market senior existing business underwriter.

Aviva said the three hires are joined by five additional underwriting hires across property, casualty and motor trade.

The appointments mean that, in total, the insurer now has 70 underwriters in the region.

Connor Henderson, branch manager at Aviva’s London office, said: “By attracting top talent and enhancing our underwriting expertise, we are poised to deliver exceptional service and innovative solutions.

“Being visible in a highly competitive market and increasing our capability makes us even more responsive to brokers’ needs. We look forward to expanding our team even further in the coming months, as the London region goes from strength to strength.”

Experience

Collier joins from Zurich, where he worked for 12 years, most recently as senior motor fleet underwriter.

At Aviva, he will be responsible for the portfolio management of the mid-market fleet book for London and the south east region.

Cahill, meanwhile, joins from Allianz, where she worked as a senior underwriter in its Woking and city office, with a focus on coaching junior staff.

Prior to Allianz, she spent a year at Ecclesiastical.

Finally, Hodges most recently worked at Ecclesiastical as a technical underwriter, helping to drive underwriting standards. Prior to this, he held roles at Zurich and RSA.

Henderson said: “We’re thrilled to welcome a raft of talented underwriters as we gear up for our next stage of growth in the London market.

“As our team expands, so too do the opportunities for progression – there’s never been a more exciting time to join Aviva.”